{Five Favorites}

It has been a happy and beautiful week around our house, and I hope you have all had a great one too!!  Here are a few cherished moments on which I'm reflecting this morning.

{play dates with our best friends}

{moments of silence on Memorial Day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice}

{getting work done with the help of my new "assistant"} 

{catching this sunset while visiting my goddaughter and bff}

{comforting my sweet baby after her 4-month shots}

Happy Friday, friends!!  Here's to a happy weekend!
xoxo,
Katherine

{30 Day Crunch Challenge}

I absolutely LOVE being a mom, but I'm not too fond of those lingering pounds following the birth of my little bundle.  In order to amp up my workouts, I have added a few "challenges" into my regimen.  The first being a squat challenge, which I started last week, and now this...A 30-day Crunch Challenge.

You can learn more about my squat challenge here, and I hope you'll also join me on the mission to a toned tummy.  Let's do it!!

{fighting for fitness}

Good luck!!
xoxo,
Katherine

{Tips to Try: Memory Booster}

How cool is this...You can improve your memory by simply changing the way you brush your teeth everyday.  Try this tonight (I know I am)...Use your non-dominant hand to clean your chompers...By doing this, you will stimulate nerve cells on the side of your brain that you don't typically exercise, which will help keep you sharp as a tack! Have fun!!

{real simple}

xoxo,
Katherine

{Spray Tan Tips for Summer}

Summer is quickly approaching, and that means bikini season is near.  Eeeek!!!  I don't know about you, but I feel much better in sundresses, swimsuits, and my bare skin when I have a nice, natural, golden glow.  I live at the beach and love relaxing by the ocean, but I also don't want to damage my skin as a result.  Since we all know the risks associated with suntanning, it's up to us to take the proper precautions to protect our skin.

Problem:  I'm now one of those crazy girls who applies like SPF 70 before going to the beach, but I also LOVE being tan.

Solution:  In order to enjoy my time outdoors without looking like Casper the ghost, I set out on a mission to find the perfect "fake tan" products.

Over the past few years, I have tried TONS of tanning lotions, sprays, towels, etc., and I always come to the same conclusion...The results are favorable, but the smell is awful!!  There is nothing worse than getting out of the shower smelling fresh and clean, and applying a tanning lotion with a "not-so-sweet" odor.  In preparation for summer, I continued my hunt for the perfect sunless tanning product over the past few months, and I have FINALLY found two that I love.

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Perfect Salon Airbrush Mist

{L'Oreal}

I fell in love with this product immediately, and I really think you'll love it too.  The spray is in the form of a mist, which makes it super easy to apply, and within an hour, your skin will turn a nice golden color. With a wide-angle jet applicator, the mist applies evenly on your skin to give you a natural, sun-kissed look. In addition to it's ease of application, I'm also thrilled with the scent of this product.  When I started applying the spray, I immediately smelled a citrus scent, and my skin smelled fresh even after it was completely dry.  This is definitely a winner in my book!!

Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days To Glow Moisturizer

{Jergens}

I have always loved the outcome after applying the Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizing lotions, but I was not a fan of the scent that it left behind.  I would find myself showering again at night and applying this tanning lotion before bed so I could avoid smelling like it all day because I just really can't handle a lotion that leaves me smelling anything other than fresh, fruity and clean. :)  Well, I guess the great folks at Jergens took note of their customers' concerns because they've introduced this line of moisturizers without that fake tan smell...Hooray!!  I'm so happy with the new and improved product, and I actually like to use both the L'Oreal mist and the Jergens lotion.  I'll spray the mist over my entire body, and then I follow with the lotion to ensure I have a smooth, even tan.

I hope you're as pleased with these products as I have been, and I can't wait to hear how your tans turn out.  Before you begin, make sure you read these top tips for tanning:

• For the most natural-looking color, be sure to exfoliate before first use.
• Use sparingly on dry areas like knuckles, knees, ankles and in between fingers/toes.
• Choose the right shade based on your natural skin tone or your starting point.
• Smooth on evenly and thoroughly just as you would with any moisturizer.
• Use daily until you have achieved the desired level of color, then reapply 1-2/week.

Happy tanning!! 

xoxo,

Katherine

{Happy Memorial Day}

Happy Memorial Day!!

When I woke up today, I immediately thought about my Dad and how blessed I am to be the daughter of a true American hero.  He is my #1 soldier, and I'm so honored that LTC Peter A. Leventis is my Daddy.  Growing up in a military family was the most amazing experience, and it makes days like today even more special to me.

One of my fondest childhood memories will always be our trip to Washington D.C. when Dad took us to the Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Watching Dad find the names of his "brothers" who had lost their lives alongside him in the Vietnam War touched my heart like nothing else.  Today, I'm thinking about them.

{Vietnam Veterans Memorial}

We're flying our flag high, and I hope you will take some time out of your day and join me in honoring the service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country.  Gone but never forgotten, brave soldiers...May you rest in peace.

xoxo,
Katherine

{Five Favorites}

I always love spending some time on Friday mornings reflecting on all the things that made me smile throughout the week.  Whether it's something big or small, anything that makes you happy is worth noting in my book.

Here are a few things that made my week extra special...

{My sweet nephew, AJ, and my baby, Kate, who were baptized last weekend}

{Kate and her Godmothers during the baptismal procession}

{Evening mimosas on the back porch}

{Back to blogging & so happy about it!}

{My morning coffee}

How was your week?
xoxo,
Katherine

{30 Day Squat Challenge}

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and that means it's time for sun, sand, and swimsuits!!  This summer is definitely sneaking up on me, and I sure hope I'll be bikini-ready in time.  :)  I've been working extremely hard at getting my pre-baby body back, and I decided it wouldn't hurt to add a 30-Day Squat Challenge to my workout regimen.

I love squats because they're pretty simple to perform, they require no equipment, and you can do them anywhere, which means there's really no excuse for me to pass up this challenge.  I'm starting today so I can tone my tush in time for the 4th of July!! :)

Wanna join me?  Let's do it!!

{aprilathena7}

GOOD LUCK!
xoxo,
Katherine

{Tips to Try: Coffee Filters}

I've been wanting to start a series on my blog dedicated to useful tips and tricks utilizing everyday items and household products.  I have so many fun finds to share with you, and I'm going to start with all the great things you can do with coffee filters.  Who would've known that a coffee filter could double as so many awesome things!!

COFFEE FILTERS

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect china by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter and shine away.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Use strips of coffee filters to wax eyebrows...Clever.

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, french fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Use them to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

Save those extra coffee filters...You never know when you may need one for something other than your morning cup of joe!! :)

xoxo,

Katherine